The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-01-21
NO ROOM FOR MOTHER.
Driven from the Home OF Her Wealth
Daughters in Old Age

|
Daughters In Old Age.
"Going North, madam"
mo, ma'am."
"Going South, them"
u don't know, ma'am."
Why, there are only two ways to CO."
VI didn't know. / was never on the cars.
I'm waiting for the train TO go to John"
John? There is no town called John.
Where is it?"
"Oh Johns my son. He's out in Kansas
on claim"
q am going right to Kansas, myself You
intend TO visit 7"
mo, ma'am."
She said it with sigh SO -burdened,
the stranger was touched.
John sickf"
No"
The evasiye tone, the look of pain In the
furrowed face was noticed by the stylish lady
as the gray head bowed upon the toil-mark-
cd hand. She wanted to hear her story TO
help her.
Excuse me-John in trouble?'
mo, no-rm in trouble. Trouble my old
heart never thought to see."
"The train does not come for some time.
Here, rest your head upon my cloak"
"You are kind II my own were so
shouldn't be in trouble tonight"
What is your trouble? Maybe can help
you"
ats hard 10 tellfs to strangers, but my old
heart is too full TO keep it back.
when was left widow with the three
children, thought 1t was more than / could
bear but 1t wasn't as bad as this"
| The stranger waited till she recovered her
voice to go on.
II had only the cottage and my willing
hands: ,oiled early and late all the years
till John could help me. Then we kept the
| girls at school, John and me. They were
married not long ago-married rich, as the
world goes. John sold the cottage, sent me
to the city to live with them, and he went
West 10 begin for hi.nself He said we had
provided for the girls and they would pro-
vide for me now"
Her voice chokcd with emotion The
stranger waited in silence.
Il went to them in the city. | went to
Mary's first She lived in great house,
with servants TO wait on her-a house many
times larger than the little cottage; but /
soon found there wasn't room enough for
me-"
The tears stood in the lines on her cheeks.
The ticket agent came out softly, stirred the
fire and went back. After pause she con-
tinued:
Il went to Martha's-wcnl with pain in
my heart never felt before. was willing
10 do anything so as not to be burden But
that wasn't it. l found that they were
ashamed of my bent old body and my with
cred face ashamed of my rough, wrinkled
hands, made so toiling for them"
The tears came thick and fast now. The
strangers hand rested caressingly on the
gray head.
AT last they told me that must live at u
boarding house, and they'd keep me there.
| couldn't say anything back; my heart was
too full OF pain. wrote to John what they
were going to do. He wrote right back,
long, kind letter, for me to come right to him.
a always had home while he had roof,
he said TO come right there and stay as long
as lived !; that his mother should never go
out TO strangers, So I'm going to John
He's got only his rough hands and his great
warm heart; but there's room for his old
mother-.God bless-hin-"
The stranger brushed tear from her fair
cheek and awaited the conclusion.
"Some day, when am gone where III
never trouble them again, Mary and Martha
will think of 1t all. Some day, when the
hands that toled for them are folded and still;
when the eyes that watched over them
through many weary night are closed for
ever; when the little old body, bent with the
burdens it bore for them, is put away where
1t can never shame them"
The agent drew his hand quickly before
his eyes, and went out, us if TO look for the
train. The strangers jeweled fingers strok-
ed the gray locks, while the tears of sorrow
and the tears of sympathy fell together
The weary heart was unburdcned. Sooth-
ed by touch of sympathy the troubled
soul yielded 10 the longing for rest, and she
fell asleep.
The agent went noiselessy about his duties
that he might not wake her. AS the fair
stranger watched she saw smile on the care
worn face. The lips moved. She bent down
to hear.
"lm doing it for Mary and Martha. They
will take care OF me some time"
She was dreaming of the days in the little
cottage-of the fond hopes which inspired
her, long before she learned, with broken
heart, that some day she would turn, home
less in the world, TO 60 to John.